Authentication device for user authentication and image forming apparatus including the authentication device

Abstract

A user authentication device provided on an apparatus as an object of operation acquires feature data representing notable portion of the user, using a camera device, after user authentication. Based on the acquired feature data, the user authentication device tracks the user by the camera (step S 1030 ). If it is detected by the tracking that the user has left the apparatus, the user authentication device displays a log-in screen image on an operation panel (step S 1060 ). If it is detected that the user once left the apparatus has returned to a position where he/she can operate the apparatus, the user authentication device displays the screen image that has been previously operated by the user. On the other hand, if it is detected that the tracking has been interrupted after the user left the apparatus, the user authentication device executes a log-out process (step S 1120 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for authorizing a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a display to display information; 
 an image pick-up device to pick-up an image of the user; 
 at least one processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: 
 executing an authentication process for the user; 
 acquiring feature information of the user by using the image pick-up device; 
 tracking the user based on the acquired feature information by controlling the image pick-up device; 
 providing information to the display; and 
 responsive to an interruption of tracking the user as the user moves outside of a tracking range of the apparatus, executing a process of canceling authentication for the user, 
 wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to the executing an authentication process for the user, an operation screen image to be operated by the user, wherein 
 the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to (a) the apparatus tracking the user returning to a position permitting operation of the apparatus without interruption of tracking and (b) detecting said user front-facing to said apparatus, the operation screen image. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to the apparatus detecting the user having moved away from the apparatus, a screen image different from the operation screen image. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for authorizing a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a display to display information; 
 an image pick-up device to pick-up an image of the user; 
 at least one processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: 
 executing an authentication process for the user; 
 acquiring feature information of the user by using the image pick-up device; 
 providing information to the display; 
 detecting that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed without any operation of an operation screen image by the user; 
 tracking, responsive to the detecting that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed without any operation of the operation screen image by the user, the user based on the acquired feature information by controlling the image pick-up device; and 
 responsive to an interruption of tracking the user as the user moves outside of a tracking range of the apparatus, executing a process of canceling authentication for the user, 
 wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to the executing an authentication process for the user, the operation screen image to be operated by the user, wherein 
 the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to (a) the apparatus tracking the user returning to a position permitting operation of the apparatus without interruption of tracking and (b) detecting said user front-facing to said apparatus, the operation screen image. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to the detecting that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed without any operation of the operation screen image by the user, a screen image different from the operation screen image, and wherein
 the image pick-up device is controlled to track the user responsive to the display displaying the screen image different from the operation screen image. 
 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for authorizing a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a display to display information; 
 a reader to read user information from a storage medium storing the user information; 
 an image pick-up device to pick-up an image of the user; 
 at least one processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: 
 executing an authentication process for the user based on the user information read by the reader; 
 acquiring feature information of the user by using the image pick-up device; 
 tracking, responsive to the user information of the storage medium becoming unreadable as the storage medium is moved away from the reader, the user based on the acquired feature information by controlling the image pick-up device; and 
 responsive to an interruption of tracking of the user as the user moves outside of a tracking range of the apparatus, executing a process of canceling authentication for the user, 
 wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to the executing an authentication process for the user, an operation screen image to be operated by the user as long as the storage medium is provided at a position allowing reading of the user information of the storage medium, wherein 
 the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to (a) the apparatus tracking the user returning to a position permitting operation of the apparatus without interruption of tracking and (b) detecting said user front-facing to said apparatus, the operation screen image. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display displays, responsive to the user information of the storage medium becoming unreadable as the storage medium is moved away from the reader, a screen image different from the operation screen image, and wherein
 the operations performed by the at least one processor further comprise tracking, responsive to the display displaying the screen image different from the operation screen image, the user by controlling the image pick-up device. 
 
     
     
       7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 1 ; and 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image in accordance with an operation by the user authenticated by the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       8. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 3 ; and 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image in accordance with an operation by the user authenticated by the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 5 ; and 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image in accordance with an operation by the user authenticated by the apparatus.